What I Learned from Surviving Hurricanes Sally and Zeta

Summary

The article discusses the lessons learned from experiencing Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, emphasizing the importance of having alternative power sources like "juice packs" for communication devices.

Abstract

The author recounts the impact of Hurricanes Sally and Zeta on their town, where residents faced extended power outages and disruptions in communication services. Despite being accustomed to hurricanes and preparing with food and water, the lack of electricity and gas made it difficult to maintain communication as phone batteries died and in-car chargers became ineffective. The experience led the author to recognize the value of portable charging devices, prompting them to stock up on "juice packs" in anticipation of future storms.

Opinions

The author believes that traditional hurricane preparations, such as stocking food and water, are insufficient without also considering how to maintain communication.
There is an acknowledgment that "juice packs" are undervalued in disaster preparedness lists, as they proved crucial for keeping phones operational when traditional power sources failed.
The author expresses a proactive stance on disaster preparedness, having taken steps to improve their readiness for future storms by purchasing portable chargers.

What I Learned from Surviving Hurricanes Sally and Zeta

Disaster relief truck still on my street weeks after Sally and Zeta / Credit: Jan Harayda

For five days, much of my town had no electricity and no reliable phone or internet service after Hurricane Sally hit last year. Then Zeta struck.

We’re used to hurricanes, so many of us had stocked up on food and water before we lost power during Sally. But those of us without generators couldn’t text, make calls, or go online after our phone batteries ran down. Our usual Plan B — using in-car chargers — failed as cars ran out of gas, and stores and gas stations stayed closed for days.

Many of us could have used something you rarely see on lists of supplies helpful in a disaster: “juice packs” that power your phone when the battery dies. When stores reopened, I bought an armload, so I was ready for Zeta — and for any 2021 storms headed our way.